​Somalia's President cuts short Ethiopia visit after Minister death

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo cut short a state visit to Ethiopia after the death of Public works Minister Abas Siraji in Mogadishu last night, Garowe Online reports.

“I am cutting short my visit to Ethiopia to mourn with my country and take part in the state burial of the minister of works and reconstruction Abass Siraji.” President Farmajo said in a Twitter Post.

President Farmajo sent his condolences to the family and relatives of late Minster Siraj. He said: “I am deeply saddened by the death of Minister Siraj. He was young, diligent and patriotic.”

The President and his delegate are expected to return to Mogadishu on Thursday morning to participate in the scheduled state funeral to be held in Mogadishu later today.

Siraj, 31, was shot dead in his vehicle by the bodyguards of the Auditor General Nur Jimale Farah at a security checkpoint near the heavily guarded Presidential Palace in Mogadishu on Wednesday evening.

Police said the incident happened when the bodyguards of both officials got suspicious and opened fired on each other. In a statement, the Somali government paid tribute to the late Minister who was the youngest in the current cabinet and called for an investigation.

Somalia's auditor general told VOA Somali Service that his bodyguards suspected a vehicle behind them was transporting a suicide bomber and opened fire on it, killing the Minister of Public works on the spot.

GAROWEONLINE